The Winning Run

I’ve probably mentioned before the Abigail’s softball team, The Blue Crush, have played together for the better part of 5 years. The girls are talented ball players and sweet sprits. Every one of them really seems to love the game of softball and playing together. Coach Ron has been their leader and when he can, Jon jumps in there too. Today’s game was another fast paced game that was tied when the clock ran out. We continued to play and t was Abigail who brought in Ashlynn for the winning run!

Glorious Double Header

Caleb’s team also played today. Caleb’s team has only won three games this season, but Caleb still loves to play and Jon loves being out on the field with the boys. Caleb had two good hits and it was an exciting game, (that’s Caleb on first base and Jon coaching first). The team finished with their fourth win of the season with a final score of 5 to 6.
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On a side note, Uncle David was a little weirded out that I shared my Sonic iced tea with Padme’, however in my defense, I only shared it with Padme’ after I was thru drinking.

Albino Gangsta’ Chik in the ‘hood

Today I downloaded pictures off Abigail’s camera I came across these photos. The one above is just such a pretty pic of my baby girl! The two older children have this almost freakish 6th sense that when a camera is aimed at them that put on a sweet expression and virtually every photo is flattering.
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Abigail, well she is a different story. If there is a camera aimed at her there is a good chance she will make a face or strike a pose. So the photos that show her charm are few and far between.
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So with smile and a shake of my head the photo above is the charming child I dreamed of and the photo below, well, could be nothing less than God’s sense of humor.

Game On!

Following a couple of rain outs it was game on tonight! Abigail had a good game behind home plate, unfortunately it wasn't her team's finest game! Rain outs take a tool on the team, you can tell when the team has missed out on playing together, they just don't sinc at the game. Oh well, even when you lose it's always a good night surrounded by friends at the ballpark!

Baseball Dad

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Jon has a love for the game of baseball. One of our first dates was a road trip to see the St. Louis Cardinals with the Broken Arrow church singles group. We have spent more than a few anniversaries at ballparks. Caleb and Abigail have both played recreation ball since they were four years old! On weeks that we don't have ball games or we get rained out Jon takes the kids to Extra Innings for batting practice.

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As big a part as baseball plays in our life you would expect Caleb to have some baseball great's name. In fact when I was pregnant and the child was to be a boy, lots of fun names were thrown around. My favorite was Jon's suggestion that we name him 'Later.' Because every great baseball trade includes the phrase, '. . . was traded for a player to be named Later.'

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Ask me one day what he wanted to name Abigail!

End of the School Year Picnic

At the end of each school year our homeschool group celebrates with a giant picnic. There are great track and field events for the kids, Abigail lost her shoe in her race. There is Kid's Biz, where the kids make items and sell them, along with awards and great camaraderie. The weather this year was perfect and it was just an amazing day. By the car ride home Abigail and Padme' were worn out!

Growing Up

Before Caleb even arrived in this world there was a monstrous play scape awaiting him. Sissy would swing him back and forth while we were in Oklahoma. Jon carefully took it apart and we borrowed Dad's truck and drove it to Texas in two separate pieces. Abigail has spent the last nine years climbing all over it. Today, unfortunately the time had come to take it down. Hopefully it will find a new home, but this sentimental Mom was sad to see it come down!

Butterflies, God's self propelled flowers

Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued,
is always just beyond your grasp,
but which, if you will sit down quietly,
may alight upon you.
~Nathaniel Hawthorne

One of the local malls hosted the Butterfly Festival for the Kiwanis. We joined the Gungan’s at the mall to check out the 800 square foot mesh tent which was outfitted like a conservatory, lined with flowering plants and green foliage, water fountains and butterfly feeders. The hundreds of delicate creatures enjoy the nectar in the specially selected plants inside the tent.

We were given cotton swabs soaked in Gatorade to entice butterflies to alight on the swab to get that personal experience with the butterflies. Abigail was just a little creeped out by the ‘buggy-ness’ side of the butterflies.

Monkey See . . . Monkey Do

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While at the Renaissance Fair we saw several vendors selling walking sticks. Some of the walking sticks were very elaborate but most were plain stained and varnished wood. We had recently had some storm damage to one of our trees and I told Caleb he could make a great walking stick out of some part of the branch. Today Caleb, with some help from Frankie, pruned the injured branch off the tree. Then Caleb and Abigail proceed to cut the branch to the desired length, and remove all the bark. Jon's Mom, a.k.a. Granny, is coming to visit so the kids can't wait to give her the walking stick they've created. Boy will she be surprised to recieve a six foot, thirteen pound walking stick! Some modifications may be necessary!

Break out your poet shirts and tights, it is time for the renaissance fair. Jousting, & horseback riding, tomato throwing, celtic music, bungee jumping were just some of the great fun (I know, I didn't get the connection on some of those either). Great fun, accompanied by even better friends!